A TEACHER whose bag was snatched in a smash and grab raid on her car is appealing to the thief to return her pupils' work.

Pat Lewis, a primary teacher at Sunnyside School and Nursery, in Barbourne Terrace, Worcester, went home around 11.30am on Monday, suffering from the flu.

But yesterday morning she woke to discover a brick had been thrown through her car window and her bag - containing books, lesson plans, marking and her filofax - had been stolen.

"I know I shouldn't have left a bag on the front seat, but when I came home with the flu I just wanted to get to bed," said Mrs Lewis.

"While the books are expensive to replace, they are absolutely no use to anyone but another teacher.

"The lesson plans are for my pupils until the end of term.

"The only people who will suffer are the children, and as the contents have no value for anyone else, I really hope that whoever took it can search their conscience and hand the bag to the police."

Mrs Lewis, of Albany Terrace, off Britannia Square, searched lanes near to her home in case the bag had been discarded, and called the police.

"People are obviously after valuable items so it may have been dumped somewhere, as it only contained books," said Insp Steve Fulton.

"However, we would advise people to be wary of leaving things in their cars where people can see them."

The bag is described as black, with brightly-coloured parrots drawn on it.

Anyone with information about either the bag or the incident should contact police on 08457 444 888.